Receive the latest national-international updates in your inbox

What was supposed to be a quick stop for a family cookout turned into a lesson in discrimination for a mother who said she was kicked out of a store for wearing a Niqab, NBC 5's Ash-har Quraishi reports.
(Published Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016)

What was supposed to be a quick stop for a family cookout quickly turned into a harsh lesson in discrimination for a mother of four who said she was kicked out of a Family Dollar store for wearing a niqab.

The incident, which was captured on cell phone video and took place in front of Sarah Muzdaher Safi’s children, began when Safi stopped inside a Family Dollar store in Gary, Indiana, Monday afternoon wearing the traditional Islamic veil.

“I understand, but you have to understand this is a high crime area where we get robbed a lot, you need to remove that from your face or remove yourself from the store,” the employee said.

The clerk told Safi to leave two more times before wishing her a “blessed day.”

Suspect in Georgia Officer Shooting Dead

Authorities announced the death of Minquell Kennedy Lembrick, 32, on Dec. 8, 2016 after a manhunt stemming from a domestic abuse call at an Americus, Georgia apartment. (Published Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016)

"It's not just a blatant violation of the civil rights laws of this country but it's also a violation of the basic laws of decency and morality that you don't treat customers this way just because they have a different cultural background or a different religion,” said Ahmed Rehab with the Council on American Islamic Relations.

Family Dollar, which is owned by Dollar Express, did not respond to NBC Chicago’s request for comment.